Red Wolves come up short against Racers

James Bryant

12/19/2012

Arkansas State played its best defensive game of the season here Wednesday night in front of a very rowdy crowd at the Convocation Center. The Red Wolves came up short offensively and fell to a very good Murray State team 61-54. All AStateNation Basketball Coverage brought to you by Cache River Valley Seed, Adam Staples State Farm Insurance, and Greenway Equipment.

Arkansas State played its best defensive game of the season here Wednesday night in front of a very rowdy crowd at the Convocation Center.

The only thing that kept this Red Wolf Basketball team from remaining undefeated at home was the fact that they probably played the best team they will face all season long.
"I have nothing but good things to say what we tried to do, I have no regrets on how we played defense here tonight," Arkansas State veteran Coach John Brady said. "I'm proud of the way we played but disappointed in the outcome."

It was obvious that the ASU players were also disappointed in the seven point loss.

"That was a very good team," senior Brandon Peterson said. "We played our best defensive game, we just came up short on the offensive side of the ball tonight."

In fact the Red Wolves, who have had better success from three point range, had one of their worst night beyond the three point line. Arkansas State shot just 13.3 percent and just made two out 15 3 point attempts.

"We have had a lot better nights shooting," Brady said. "I will have to go back and watch the film but I feel at least six or seven of those shots we were clear, we just didn't shoot the ball very well."

Murray State entered the game averaging over 75 points a game and Arkansas State held the Racers to their lowest scoring performance of the year.

"That's a very good basketball team, they are very athletic," Brady said. "They have a first round draft pick on that team and I loved how we defended them all night. We were just short a few shots here and there that could make a difference."

Arkansas State shot just 36.2 percent from the field in the game, but held Murray State to 41.2 percent for the night.

"Any time you can hold a team under 40 percent from the field you have a chance to win the game," Brady said in an earlier interview. "Some of the best teams I have ever coached would have a shot of winning the game with great defense, even if we had an off night offensively."

Nothing could be closer to the truth of Wednesday night's ESPN3 televised basketball team. Despite the ASU Students being out for Christmas Break, the AStateNation fan based turned out for their big attendance night of the season.

"I'm disappointed for our players," Brady said. "Im disappointed for our fans. That was a great college basketball game. Our crowd was great, they were loud when they needed to be, it was a great atmosphere."

Arkansas State led by one at the half 27-26.

When asked what he told his team at the half, Brady was quick to respond.

"I told them to keep doing what they were doing," Brady said. "We played great defense with great energy, we just missed some down the stretch that hurt us and they hit a couple of threes at the end that gave them the edge."